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1999 - Present
1999 The Mariners began a new chapter in club history closing out
a 221ž2 year run in the Kingdome on June 27 and opening their new
open-air ballpark SAFECO Field on July 15. Lou Piniella became the
14th manager to earn both 1000 wins as a manager and 1000-ML hits
as a player. Ken Griffey Jr. earned his ninth Gold Glove and his
seventh Silver Slugger. Alex Rodriguez tallied his third Silver
Slugger and rookie pitcher Freddy Garcia served up a club rookie
record 17 wins (4.07 ERA). Seattle finished third in the AL at 70-83.
2000 Boasting a fresh roster, featuring pitchers Aaron Sele and
Kazuhiro Sasaki, outfielder Mike Cameron and first baseman John
Olerud, the Seattle Mariners embarked on the first full season at
SAFECO Field. Returning to the playoffs, Seattle captured a wild
card berth, swept the Chicago White Sox in the AL Division Series
and pushed the Yankees to six games in the ALCS. Japanese closer
Kazuhiro Sasaki was named Rookie of the Year, John Olerud earned
a Gold Glove and Alex Rodriguez collected his fourth Silver Slugger
Award.
2001 With a virtually unknown outfielder from Japan named Ichiro
Suzuki joining the team, the Seattle Mariners opened the 2001 season
as prohibitive underdogs to the defending division champion Oakland
Athletics. Ichiro became an instant hit with his bat and strong
throwing arm, second-time-around Mariner Bret Boone had the best
season by a second baseman in American League history and the Mariners
won an AL record 116 games in a truly remarkable season. Veteran
left-hander Jamie Moyer became the franchise's second 20-game winner,
but wasn't one of the eight Mariners selected to the AL All-Star
team. Freddy Garcia was the starter and winner of the Midsummer
Classic played at SAFECO Field and reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki collected
the save. The Mariners captured their third AL West title, fought
back from the brink of elimination in the best-of-five Division
Series against the Cleveland Indians, advancing to the AL Championship
Series, falling in five games to the New York Yankees. Ichiro missed
by one vote of being a unanimous Rookie of the Year selection but
made up for that by being named as the league's Most Valuable Player.
Lou Piniella was voted the AL Manager of the Year and General Manager
Pat Gillick the Executive of the Year.
2002 The Mariners won 93 games in 2002, the second-best total in
club history. The 93 victories also made it 300 for the club over
its last three seasons (91 wins in 2000; 116 wins in 2001), just
the 16th time that has been accomplished in Major League history.
More history was made May 2 in Chicago when Mike Cameron and Bret
Boone became the first duo to hit back-to-back home runs twice in
one inning. Cameron finished the game with a record-tying four home
runs, becoming just the 13th Major Leaguer to accomplish the feat.
The fans in the Pacific Northwest turned out in record numbers as
SAFECO Field drew a Major League-best 3,540,482 fans, setting a
new franchise mark. First baseman John Olerud won his third consecutive
Gold Glove while second baseman Bret Boone and outfielder Ichiro
Suzuki each won his second straight.
1992 - 1998
1992 Edgar Martinez joined Ken Griffey Jr. as an All-Star and also
earned a Silver Slugger Award and earned the first batting crown
in Mariners' history slapping out a .343 average. With new manager
Bill Plummer at the helm, Seattle recorded a 64-98 season.
1993 The fiery Lou Piniella rolled into town as the Mariners new
skipper and immediately paid dividends guiding the club to 82 wins.
On April 22, pitcher Chris Bosio, in just his fourth start as a
Mariner, walked the first two batters faced and then proceeded to
retire the next 27 for the club's second no-hitter. The game ended
on a barehanded grab and throw by shortstop Omar Vizquel. Seattle
was 82-80 on the year.
1994 Not only was the season shortened by the MLB strike, but so
was the Mariners home schedule. On July 19, just three hours before
game-time the first of four 15-pound Kingdome tiles fell to the
ground. The game was postponed and the Mariners played the remainder
of the season on the road.
1995 A historic year for the club as the Seattle Mariners earned
their first American League West title, defeating the Angels in
a one-game playoff. It was also the year Seattle won a Division
Series in one of the most exciting series ever. Seattle overcame
a 5-4 deficit in the 11th inning, scoring two runs off an Edgar
Martinez double down the left field line, to take the decisive game
five. Lou Piniella was named Manager of the Year and Randy Johnson
took home the Cy Young.
1996 Seattle earned a then club record 85 wins but took second in
the AL West behind the Texas Rangers. The Mariners sent outfielders
Jay Buhner and Ken Griffey Jr., DH Edgar Martinez, shortstop Alex
Rodriguez and catcher Dan Wilson to the All-Star Game. Rodriguez
took home his first Silver Slugger Award and the AL batting crown
by hitting .358 with 36 home runs and 123 RBI.
1997 Seattle returned to the playoffs winning the AL West with a
club-record 90 wins. The Mariners sent five players to the All-Star
game, including pitcher Randy Johnson, outfielders Ken Griffey Jr.
and Jay Buhner, second baseman Joey Cora and catcher Dan Wilson.
Griffey Jr. was named the American League MVP and Edgar Martinez
was named Designated Hitter of the Year.
1998 Despite a disappointing season finishing 11 1ž2 games back
in the AL West, the club posted some impressive individual numbers.
Alex Rodriguez became just the third player in Major League history
in the 40-40 club as he hit 42 home runs and stole 46 bases. Ken
Griffey Jr. became the third player in the 50-20 club with 56 home
runs and 20 stolen bases. He was also the youngest player to reach
350 home runs. LHP Jamie Moyer earned his 100th win and 1000th strikeout
and Edgar Martinez tallied another Designated Hitter of the Year
award.
1987 - 1991
1987 A banner year for the Mariners as Seattle produced a then club-record
78 wins behind two young All-Stars in pitcher Mark Langston and
infielder Harold Reynolds. The dominant Langston was 19-13 with
a 3.84 ERA, while the speedy Reynolds stole a club-record 60 bases.
It was also the year Ken Griffey Jr. entered Seattle's minor league
system and Edgar Martinez made his way to the majors.
1988 Slugger Jay Buhner came to Seattle from the New York Yankees
in what turned out to be one of the most lopsided trades in club
history. Harold Reynolds tallied another All-Star appearance and
Jim Snyder took over as manager in June. Seattle finished sixth
in the AL West posting a 68-93 record.
1989 A young Ken Griffey Jr. impressed new manager Jim Lefebvre
during spring training, making the Opening Day roster and launching
a new era in Mariners baseball. Junior tattooed his mark on the
club immediately, hitting his first ML home run on the first pitch
he saw at the Kingdome. The Big Unit, Randy Johnson, also arrived
going 7-9 with a 4.40 ERA. Seattle was 73-89 on the year.
1990 In what was described as a ragged but dominant performance,
LHP Randy Johnson recorded the club's first no-hitter on June 2,
defeating the Detroit Tigers with a six-walk, 136-pitch outing.
Family history was next on the list as Ken Griffey Jr. and Ken Griffey
Sr. became the first father and son to play together on the same
team.
1991 For the first time in club history the Seattle Mariners finished
the season above .500 taking home a modest 83-79 record. Ken Griffey
Jr. was named to his second All-Star Game and also brought home
the club's first Silver Slugger Award, hitting .327 with 22 home
runs and 100 RBI. Seattle placed fifth in the AL West at 83-79.
1982 - 1986
1982 In the first Mariner milestone since Opening Day 1977, the
crafty Gaylord Perry became the 15th pitcher in history to claim
his 300th career win in a 7-3 victory. In the win, Perry went the
distance against New York striking out four and walking one.
1983 The year of the USS Mariner stationed beyond the outfield wall,
designed to fire a cannon after every home run and the bullpen tug
created to transport pitchers from the pen into the game. It was
also the year the club saw its third midseason manager change as
Del Crandall replaced Rene Lachemann. Seattle finished with a 60-102
record.
1984 Seattle's first legitimate star arrived on the ML scene as
first baseman Alvin Davis captured the hearts and cheers of Seattle
fans everywhere. The first inductee into the Mariners Hall of Fame,
Davis produced 126 RBI, 27 home runs and a .284 average. He was
also named Rookie of the Year and to the 1984 All-Star team. Other
familiar faces made their mark in 1984 as Mark Langston (17-10,
3.40) took to the mound while future Mariners' announcer Dave Henderson
patrolled the outfield.
1985 Led by Manager Chuck Cottier, who was brought aboard in September
of 1984, the Mariners landed 74 wins for the second straight year.
Phil Bradley led the club with a .300 average and was named to the
All-Star team.
1986 The club struggled through three managerial changes, moving
from Cottier to Marty Martinez, until finally settling on Dick Williams
in May. Seattle finished with a 67-95 record and placed outfielder
Phil Bradley in the All-Star game. um.
1977 - 1981
1977 On April 6, Major League Baseball returned to Seattle when
the Mariners played the California Angels before a Kingdome crowd
of 57,762. The Mariners went onto lose the game, 7-0 and finished
the inaugural season with a 64-98 record.
1978 A struggling young ballclub, led by Manager Darrell Johnson,
the Mariners finished seventh in the AL West posting a 56-104 record.
Outfielder Leon Roberts led the club with 22 home runs, 92 RBI and
a .301 batting average.
1979 The Seattle Mariners hosted its first MLB All-Star game and
cheered for its lone All-Star, first baseman Bruce Bochte. The National
League won the contest 7-6 in front of 58,905 Kingdome fans. The
club finished the year 67-95.
1980 As the eighties began, Seattle Mariners' fans saw their first
managerial change as Maury Wills replaced Darrell Johnson on August
4. The club continued to struggle, however, finishing the season
59-103. Bruce Bochte posted 78 RBI and a .300 batting average while
RHP Floyd Banister led the team with a 3.47 ERA.
1981 After a 6-18 start, the Seattle Mariners endured another managerial
change as Maury Wills released the helm to Rene Lachemann on May
6. In a strike-shortened season the Mariners finished the first
half 21-36 and the second 23-29.
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